They called Ibrahim, Boniface, Bonaventure, Ervé, Protais, Lucas Arnold, Gicelin, Paul, Jean-Pierre, are exclusively male, they are more or less friendly, more or less talking, more or less cordial is the Yaounde taxi drivers! Here in Cameroon
taxis are yellow they mark very quickly, each car is painted and decorated according to the tastes of its owner, one can read on the rear window God bless you, offal jealous (yes it is well written like that) Thank you Jesus, or discover stickers heart-shaped or star on the lights, neon lights inside illuminated at nightfall ...
They represent about ¾ of Yaounde cars on the road (see photo of the roundabout, 20 May). The taxi drivers with cars rolling off age, which counters most often are around 3 or 400 000 kms, and the speedometer which has often given up the ghost. The equipment is basic, sometimes there is no belt, no handle is the taxi drivers that opens from the inside (!) Over windows replaced with transparent plastic sheets ... The cars are Toyota Corolla mostly, because it the most common car which significantly reduces the cost of parts!
The body is mostly covered with rust or shock, but the interior is quite comfortable. Taxis are collective might be piled up to 3 front and 3 behind (the driver and two passengers). To call a taxi it gets on the edge of the road where other people wait (and there always!) The taxi arrives and honks (which means it is available) and idle listening window the direction and the prices and it is up to him to choose according to the purpose he has set, if your destination is the of taxi drivers honking it and you can get in the car ... Originally two rates are offered 200 FCFA (0.30 cents) a ride to 22h and 250 FCFA from 22H. In reality, the Cameroonian offer for relatively short trips more often 100 FCFA (for me the white rate is 150 CFA I think I could go but already 150 100 FCFA it's cheap I want not to abuse .. .) and for longer trips it offers from 250 to 300 FCFA. At the time of rush hour, or a downpour, to be taken quickly we must propose a price slightly higher than average.
The taxi drivers drive in a very sporty not hesitating to slalom, riding cons sense to arrive as quickly as possible to your destination! The taxi is not much more expensive than the bus because the ride costs 150 FCFA and the advantage is that the taxi deposited us where we want and we have a seat.
The price of gasoline is lower than in France but is relatively high here given the cost of living, count 569 FCFA per liter of Super, and 520 FCFA per liter of diesel. The taxi drivers are subject to arbitrary control of the forces of order which require the presentation of many items such licenses, insurance, car registration and other licenses, the problem is that here for each document must pay are very high, so if individuals who have a car (and therefore minimal medium) may obtain these documents is not always the case of taxi drivers in Douala ... Also the forces of order have in the past have required the presence of fire extinguisher, otherwise the taxi drivers were subjected to a fine, or giving a little something to the controller to leave without contravention unfortunately I'm not saying this is the rule here in Cameroon but it exists ...
Anyway, the taxi drivers are required for urban transport ... the price is an incentive to borrow. Moreover, if in France, having its own car requires a certain budget, here in Cameroon it becomes exorbitant between repairs (due to state tar marked by potholes and frequent red earth, the path leaves the pitch to the house which is a series of holes or bumps formed the rainy season) gasoline, insurance, the cost of paper and other certificates ... Finally, their large number allows us to be made relatively easily and relatively quickly arrive at their destination.
While you're in a good mood or somewhat cool with me, thank you ladies and taxi drivers to transport me from one end to another of Yaounde and make me discover this charming city!
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